Families Solent East magazine, March / April 2009, issue 21 by Watershed Creative Limited

EE FR

For Chichester, Fareham, Gosport, Petersfield, Portsmouth, Southsea, the Isle of Wight and all the places in-between Families Solent East, PO Box 731, Southsea PO1 9AR | www.familiessolenteast.co.uk

速

Solent East March/April 2009 | Issue 21

Photo courtesy of Vision Photography

Over 200ndly ie r f y l i m a f d, e t s i l s t n eve zes i r p t a e r plus g e won! to b

In this issue: News: 2-3 // Home-Start: 4-5 // Childminding: 6-7 // Out & about: 7-10 // What’s on: 11-16 // Nursery news: 17 // Children’s Centre news: 18-19 // Education: 20-21 // Clubs & classes: 21 // CHOC Chicks: 22 // Grow your own: 22 // Directory: 23 // Competitions & offers: 2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 22, 24

eral inertia, I have, this espite snow, monsoon like rain and gen the forthcoming vegetable year, actually already planted seeds for will make it from my window growing season. Whether or not they ain to be seen. I have also sill to the allotment/grow bag will rem g vegetables, and although the photos bought yet another book about growin l a quagmire – waterlogged and weedy, are inspirational, the allotment is stil tic leeks. The interspersed with a couple of apologe husiastically bought walk-in plastic greenhouse that I ent to condemn it to last year is still in the bag that we had it to collapse and after an alarmingly strong wind caused mer’. But hope distribute itself up the road last ‘sum Liz Bourne I am optimistic springs eternal and for now, at least, Editor and local age our d to do is enc about this year’s crops. Now all I nee mother of three m. the eat to n the childre Next issue, May/June 2009: Parties! Editorial and booking deadline: 10th April 2009. To advertise in Families Solent East: Call 023 9278 2726 or email ads@familiessolenteast.co.uk. Spread the word: If you know of a nursery, school, or other place that parents visit regularly, that isn’t already receiving FREE copies of Families Solent East but would like to, please get in touch and we’ll arrange to bring some round. Designed by Watershed Creative: 023 9242 2009, www.watershedcreative.com Printed by Bishops Printers: 023 9233 4900, www.bishops.co.uk

Copyright: Families Solent East, March 2009 Data Protection: If you send us your name and address in order to receive free samples or to enter a competition oﬀering prizes in Families Solent East, we may supply your details to the company oﬀering the samples or prizes. If you would prefer us NOT to do so, please state this clearly on your entry. Disclaimer: Colour transparencies and any other original materials submitted for publication are sent at the owners’ own risk and, whilst every care is taken, neither Families Solent East nor its agents accept liability for loss or damage. We take care preparing this magazine but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of the advertisers, nor for the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence.

news

Apologies to readers in the Fareham area

Families Solent East would like to apologise to readers in the Fareham area because, due to problems with distribution, we were unable to deliver magazines to you last issue. We hope that you all receive this issue!

The Mumtrepreneur survey – ‘Celebrating success’ We have many mumtrepreneurs in Sussex and Mums in Biz are making it their mission to find out just how many women are running their own businesses as well as their households. To do this Mums in Biz is launching, The Mumtrepreneur survey –‘Celebrating success’. The survey aims to find out how many mumtrepreneurs there are in Sussex, types of businesses, how long they have been running and turnover. It will also look at the impact on family life and the inevitable juggling act mums have to perform in order to succeed. Mums who run their own businesses contributed £4.4bn to the uk economy in 2006 (Yell.com) and Mums in Biz feels it is now time to recognise and celebrate the effort and successes that are being made by mums. The results will be published in November on mumsinbiz.com as well as in the November/ December issue of Families Solent East. The survey will go live online on Mother’s Day, March 22nd.If would like to take part in the survey please go to www.mumsinbiz.co.uk/ survey or send an email to nickyc@mumsinbiz. co.uk with ‘Survey’ in the subject title. All entrants will be entered into a prize draw.

Families Group: Families Solent East is part of a group established in 1990 and headed by Families South West. All magazines in the Group are independently owned and operated under licence.

Make sure you get your copy of Families Solent East! Families Solent East is FREE, so it can be hard to get hold of a copy! For £9.30 you can get the next six issues delivered direct to your door. To be sure of getting your copies, please complete and cut out this form and return it, together with your cheque for £9.30 made payable to Families Solent East, to: Families Solent East, PO Box 731, Southsea PO1 9AR. Name Address

Vision Photography have Mother’s Day in the frame

MAKE MONEY WITH USBORNE

Enjoy building an exciting, profitable business selling Usborne’s award-winning children’s books to parents, playgroups and schools.

START EARNING FROM DAY ONE

Postcode

2 Families Solent East March/April 2009

For a FREE information pack or to join today, contact:

Liza Cheshire 01329 662 998 liza.usborne@hotmail.co.uk www.usborneonline.org/lizacheshire

Family-friendly photographic studio, Vision Photography in New Road, Portsmouth, kindly provided the fabulous cover shot for this issue. And the good news is that they are offering a special deal for families in the three Saturdays running up to Mother’s Day. Why not have a professional photograph of the children taken as a Mother’s Day gift? On the 7th, 14th and 21st March you can have a free shoot and a mounted 10" x 8" print at just £10 per print and a 10% discount off all canvas products. To book a shoot call 023 9262 0140. Visit them online at www.visionphotostudio.com.

www.familiessolenteast.co.uk

To see your news here for free, call us on 023 9278 2726 or email editor@familiessolenteast.co.uk

A healthier Butlins Butlins is teaming up with Annabel Karmel mbe, the uk’s leading author and expert on children’s food, to help mums encourage their kids to eat a more balanced diet. The idea is to help families enjoy healthy eating with recipes having a well balanced nutritional value. Wherever possible, ‘hidden vegetables’ (vegetables pureed into sauces) are included to make it easier for children to achieve their ‘5 a day’ and make healthy eating fun and delicious. Annabel’s recipes are available at the restaurants at the Butlins Bognor Regis resort. She will be giving live cookery sessions throughout the year. Gary Johnson, Head of Food and Beverage at Butlins added ‘A little bit of what you fancy is ok when you’re on holiday but we think it’s important that people have a healthy choice. Annabel’s dishes are both healthy and fun’.

The new children’s meals complement Butlins’ existing healthy eating campaign ‘Eat Well, Feel Good’, which has proven highly successful since its introduction three years ago. Aimed primarily at five to eleven year olds the campaign encourages them to eat five pieces of fruit or vegetables per day during their holiday rewarding them with a special Butlins badge at the end of their stay. So far almost 300,000 children have been awarded badges. Dishes such as hidden vegetable lasagne, mild fruity chicken curry, sweet and sour meatballs and rice, baked macaroni cheese with ham and Chinese style rice with chicken and sweetcorn is available in the Resort buffet restaurant. To book a Butlins break visit www. butlins.com or call 0845 070 4730 (the maximum call charge is 2p per minute from a bt landline. Calls from other networks may vary).

GO FOR IT… JOIN THE BUSINESS MUMS! Working with a successful, international company, with a £36 million turnover in the UK, we are looking for openminded and ambitious people to spearhead its second phase expansion. Working part time, £500-£1,500 pm, or full time, £2,000-£5,000+ pm, without having to compromise your current career, business or family commitments. If you have a supervisory, managerial, sales, marketing, recruitment, self-employed background, would like to work from home, or feel you wish to develop an extra-ordinary income, please call Hesione Waugh on 01329 232084.

.info Since it’s ‘soft launch’ at the beginning of the year, tellingtales.info now has over fi ft y members registered! A collaboration with Families Magazines, the web site offers a space for parents to share their parenting tales. Amongst our favourites so far is the tale of the little boy who, on seeing an elderly

gentleman on his mobility scooter, said ‘If you put pennies in it, it moves and plays a tune’, mistaking it for a grown-up version of the Postman Pat ride. But more tales are needed! So if you have a tale to tell, or want to read and comment on existing tales, go to tellingtales.info and sign up.

B A B Y

M A S S A G E

Regular massage may help babies and parents or carers with feeding, constipation, colic, closeness, sleep and general relaxation.  Workshop over 4 weeks suitable for babies from 6 weeks to crawling age.  The Methodist Church, Station Road, Petersfield, Mondays, 10:15am.  Please phone and book due to a limited number of places. 

Contact Michelle Francois on

01730 260 842 or 07788 852 349 See ad on page 23

Hello Girls & Boys! Dexter my dog and I hope that you had fun in the snow that we had recently? We built a snowman in the back garden and then I had to pull Dexter around everywhere on a sledge! Soon it will be Easter and all Dexter can think about is chocolate and Easter Eggs. If he’s not careful he’s going to have to go on a diet, or else he’s going to become, ‘Dexter the world’s fattest dog!’ We’re going to have an Easter Egg Hunt in the garden. I’m going to hide lots of eggs and Dexter has to ﬁnd them. If he’s lucky I’ll let him eat one or two! Why don’t you see how nicely you can colour in this Easter Egg? You can draw a pattern on it ﬁrst and then colour it in, with crayons or felt tips. We hope that you enjoy the Easter Holidays and maybe we’ll see you at one of our magic shows in the area soon? Dexter says he hopes you get lots of Easter Eggs. Bye for now, Professor Potty & Dexter the dog. Telephone 023 9278 2726

Teach your baby to swim...

Babies offers Water right from birth, a un r baby ique e d you xperience memories. provid for you an recious ing a and p lifetime area call of water confidence sses in your la out c b a To find out more

aordinary . . . extr ng Water Babies - th e start of somethi

March/April 2009 Families Solent East 3

How you can help Home-Start

Home-Start depends on a large group of volunteers to make the service work. In order to become a volunteer no qualifications are required, you just need previous parenting experience. You may be a mother, a father or a grandparent or step-parent. A caring attitude and good listening skills are essential. You will receive all the necessary training plus a criminal record check before you are matched with a suitable family.

Things that volunteers do

The Right Start

The huge group of home-visiting volunteers, numbering over 15,000, give support to parents at home. Volunteers, known as trustees, are also required to help run the local Home-Start schemes. These volunteers may have a spectrum of skills including general business management skills, financial and legal expertise, IT knowledge, human resources experience or PR and media skills.

Other ways you can help

aving a baby should be a time of celebration, but there are Home-Start is a charity and always welcomes donations. Visit their web many problems that we face as parents of young children site where you can donate through the secure Justgiving scheme. which transcend race, economics and educational backYou can buy a copy of their Easy Peasy Teas recipe book. Visit the grounds – from feelings of isolation and post natal depression web site for more details. The book costs £6.99 plus £1.15 for postage. to the logistical problems of a multiple birth. But if you live 100% of the proceeds go to Home-Start UK. in an area served by a Home-Start scheme, you can join the many families who have received support from this excellent service.

What is Home-Start?

Case studies

Home-Start is a free, confidential and non-judgemental service supporting families with children under five across the country. Home-Start believes that children need a happy and secure childhood and that parents Without friends and family living nearby, moving to a new area can be play the key role in giving their children a good start in life and helping a daunting experience, especially when you are mum to three children. them to achieve their full potential. That’s exactly what happened to Natalie, who was struggling to settle Each local Home-Start is an independently registered charity, in to a new town. Natalie’s husband worked long hours, so Natalie often responding to the needs of its local community, managed locally. The felt quite isolated, she couldn’t drive and was battling to cope both local schemes are supported by Home-Start uk which offers training, physically and mentally with the stresses of family life. To make matters legal advice, help with fundraising, and other essential help. worse, Natalie had been suffering from post natal depression after the birth of her third child. Home-Start was set up in 1973 in Leicester by Margaret Harrison to Five years later and Natalie is l www.home-start.org.uk match trained volunteers with parenting experience to parents of underan altogether different person. l www.realparents.org.uk fives in the city. They provided support and a friendly helping hand. In She is working, has a number of 1981 Home-Start was formally set up as a national organisation, and by close friends and a new self-belief 1998 Margaret Harrison had founded Home-Start International, in herself. This she says is all There are only three criteria spreading the scheme across the world. There are now over 300 Homethanks to Home-Start. Natalie for receiving support from Start projects across the uk. had heard of Home-Star t Home-Start: through her health visitor and 1. You must have a local decided to give them a call. Home-Start scheme in Your health visitor, midwife, social worker, child’s teacher or gp may Natalie was matched with Anna, your area. refer you to Home-Start, but you can also refer yourself. 2. You must have at least one In fact, nearly 25% of families refer themselves to the scheme. child under five years of age. It can be as easy as downloading a referral form from your 3. There must be a volunteer local scheme’s web site. Once you have asked for support, a available. local organiser will meet with you and carefully match you with one of their volunteers. The volunteer will then meet with you for a couple of hours each week and offer support. ‘Support’ in this context is difficult to define since it is individually targeted. Here are some examples: A volunteer pops round for a cup of tea and chat with a parent who is feeling isolated and in need of adult contact and conversation. A parent who needs to attend a medical appointment but has no option but to take their child(ren) along can ask their volunteer to come too as an extra pair of hands. A parent of twins might ask a volunteer to come swimming with them, an impossible task alone.

Natalie

History

Useful Info

Get support

How it works

4 Families Solent East March/April 2009

www.familiessolenteast.co.uk

who was to become her home visiting volunteer. ‘Having a Home-Start volunteer made a huge impact, without it I would have struggled to really continue in life. When you’ve got no one around, no family or friends for support, Home-Start is a huge lifeline and it really made such a massive difference,’ said Natalie. ‘My volunteer has become a huge part of my life, she is like my mum and my best friend and she’s even godmother to my youngest child,’ said Natalie. Such was the support that Home-Start offered Natalie, she has even become a Home-Start volunteer herself, hoping that she too can make a difference to someone else’s life. She said: ‘Being a volunteer made me realise that I got so much from having a volunteer myself. I just wanted to give back some of what Home-Start gave to me, which in some ways, was like a new lease of life.’

Claire, a volunteer for Home-Start

Claire was a young mum who saw a recruitment ad in her local paper for Home-Start volunteers. Believing that her experiences of being a young single mum, might help others, she applied for the volunteer prep course. The family that Claire was matched to was another young mum, Gaynor, who had three-year old twins. One of the twins had a broken leg and Gaynor was finding it hard to cope. Claire visited one afternoon a week offering both practical support for the twins and emotional support for Gaynor. ‘Although I was not in her position, I didn’t have twins myself, I was a young single mum and knew how difficult that could be.’ Claire said that volunteering for an organisation such as Home-Start, doesn’t just benefit the families, but the volunteers too. ‘I know I have so much to thank Home-Start for. Volunteering for them gave me back my confidence and a renewed self belief that I could do more with my life.’

Local Home-Start News Home-Start Butser

Home-Start Butser (covering Petersfield and the surrounding areas from Greatham in the North to Rowlands Castle in the South) will be running a new Preparation Course for volunteers in May. For further information contact Nicola or Trish on 01730 233 755, or email office@ homestart-butser.org.uk.

Home-Start Portsmouth

The fund-raising group, the Friends of Home-Start, raised lots of money in 2008 most notably with a bag pack at Sainsbury’s Farlington in December and a Quiz night in November. The money from these events and others funded a Christmas Party for all the families. They’re now busy organising a variety of events for 2009, including a fashion show and skittles night, to raise funds for a Summer Outing to Paultons Park for the families. The scheme will soon be moving offices to the city centre to make it more accessible for families and volunteers. A year ago there was only one family support group in Children’s Centres in Portsmouth, but there are now four at Landport, Somerstown, Brambles and Eastney Methodist Church. The next Home-Start Portsmouth volunteer preparation course starts in May.

Local Home-Start Schemes

l Butser: 01730 233 755 l Chichester and District: 01243 773 477 l Gosport and Fareham: 01329 825 858 l Havant: 023 9224 1234 l Isle of Wight: 01983 533 357 l Portsmouth: 02392 384 027

The Willows Centre for Children All services judged ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted in June 2006 l

All year childcare available from 7:45am to 6pm for children aged 3 months to school age

5 free morning or afternoon term-time education sessions available for 3 to 4 year olds

Health clinic and breastfeeding support

Fun sessions for adults, babies and young children

023 9266 6918 Battenburg Avenue, Portsmouth PO2 0SN

As one of Portsmouth’s Children’s Centres, we provide:

inbox@willows.portsmouth.sch.uk

www.willowscentre.org.uk and www.childsplay.uk.net

Looking for childcare? Choosing someone to look after your child when you return to work or training is one of the most important decisions you can make… Registered childminders: l Provide professional and flexible care in their own home l Are inspected and regulated by Ofsted l Are crb checked, insured and First Aid qualified For more information: www.ncma.org.uk or call the local ncma office on 023 9263 9146

Telephone 023 9278 2726

March/April 2009 Families Solent East 5

Childminding: home from home childcare C

hoosing someone to look after your child when you return to work or training is one of the most important decisions you can make. Nearly 500,000 children are cared for by childminders and nannies, making home-based childcare the second most popular form of formal childcare in England and Wales. Registered childminders work in their own homes, providing childcare for up to six children aged from birth to eight years old at any one time. Many children stay with the same childminder for years – some well into secondary school. Registered childminders are usually selfemployed and are inspected and regulated by Ofsted in England. All registered childminders are required to undertake introductory training and have public liability insurance, a health check, a valid First Aid qualification and an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) disclosure.

Why choose a childminder? Using childcare in a home environment can be more flexible than other forms of childcare. Siblings can be cared for together and it is easier to access out of school activities. Your children can enjoy real-life learning experiences like cooking, shopping, gardening, mealtimes and outings to the park and library. Childminders can be spontaneous too, making the most of a sunny or unexpectedly snowy day as a great opportunity for outdoor play and learning, not always possible in other childcare settings. Accredited childminders can offer early years education that all three and four year olds are funded and entitled to through the Nursery Education Grant. Childminders are ideally placed for looking after disabled children, taking into account any special requirements. For more information on childminding please visit www.ncma.org.uk or phone the local ncma office on 023 9263 9146.

6 Families Solent East March/April 2009

Families Solent East readers Sam Smith and Sarah Morris both take their children to Jane Power, a childminder based in Portsmouth.

Sam’s story

‘My daughter, Maddison, has been with Jane now for approximately four years. It all started when my original childminder let me down and I had to seek emergency childcare. Jane was suggested to me by the childminding coordinator and I went round to her house. There was a calm atmosphere that I immediately felt at ease with, and when she spoke to me it was like we had known each other forever. ‘I contacted Jane to see if she was able to have Maddison on a more permanent basis. Maddison is now in year 6 and is desperate to start walking to and from school by herself but neither of us want to give up Jane’s care! ‘While the children are in her care they experience a wide range of activities. I have walked into her house many a time when it looks like a flour explosion and there isn’t a clean bowl in sight! And the children have cooked cakes, sausage rolls, quiche, pizza’s – her list is endless – and they have had a ball. ‘She is an amazing lady who will do anything for anyone she opens up her home and invites her minded families to be a part of hers. She is passionate about her work which is reflected in her ‘excellent’ Ofsted rating. ‘She’s become a very good friend to me and my family and I know she will be a friend forever.’

Sarah’s story ‘I had initially put my son into a local nursery but was not happy about the standard of care. I felt that he got lost amongst all the other children and I frequently witnessed children who were very upset being ignored by staff members. The thought of this happening to my son made me review my childcare arrangements. ‘I happened to find Jane purely by chance as I looked at the Ofsted website and noticed that

she had an outstanding report in the last few years. On phoning her up I felt that she was someone I would be more than happy to have look after my son and my first instincts have proved to be correct. ‘Jake was relaxed in her company from day one and she does everything she can to engage him from the minute we step in the house. She has excellent resources such as toys, games, arts and craft materials and books and he makes full use of them the minute he goes into the playroom. She also has two young sons who are school age and they are absolutely fantastic with Jake and make every effort to play with him and make him feel welcome. ‘Jake is always laughing and relaxed when I go to pick him up and has always done some artwork or task that day so that I know that he is kept occupied in a positive way. He is cared for alongside a little girl who is about three months older than him and the dynamic works so well, they go to the park, the library and have a good structured session whilst allowing for play and fun time. ‘I think it is rare that you find someone that you would implicitly trust with the welfare of your child, but I can safely say that I have found it in Jane.’

Julie’s story (a childminder) Southsea mother, Julie, has been a childminder for almost 20 years. She currently looks after eight children, all at different times. Some are cared for before and after school, others just in the school holidays and some all day. She starts work at 7:45am and finishes around 6pm. ‘I became a childminder by accident! A friend of mine was a nanny for a little boy and she was leaving. As I was qualified (I have my nneb), I said I would do it but in my home as I had my daughter to look after. Someone mentioned that I needed to let Social Services know, so I did, registered and the rest is history as they say! ‘When I first started childminding the parents would phone Social Services for the phone

www.familiessolenteast.co.uk

out & about Cowdray opening season

Need an extra pair of hands for the school holidays? numbers of childminders and then get in touch. Over the years though nearly all of my children are by word of mouth and recommendation.’ Since Julie started childminding, things have changed dramatically. ‘When I started out, there was a very informal and relaxed annual inspection for which I had to sort out a few bits of paperwork. Since then, though, childminders have gained the professional status that all childcare workers have but unfortunately with that comes the paperwork. Ofsted now rule and we work to the same levels as Nurseries and pre-schools. ‘I have to follow the eyfs (Early Years Foundation Stage). All my under fives have a Development File and I have to do observations on them covering all areas of development. I also have to plan activities and be able to show that I can move them on to the next step. It’s very time consuming and I can only do it in the evenings and at weekends. I have a file full of policies that we have to show parents and Ofsted and I also do a Daily Diary for the parents telling them what their child has been doing with me, how they’ve been, meals, sleeps etc. I also have to use a Daily Attendance Register, an Accident book and do my Accounts. ‘I am inspected by Ofsted about every three years. It’s an intense grilling for a good ¾ hours and they go through the paperwork with a fine toothcomb: we have to meet certain criteria and are graded accordingly. Our policies have to be revised and updated regularly and we have to have regular training. ‘I like childminding because I’m at home with my children, and I like that I can plan my day and have the flexibility to change those plans if I or the children want to. I like the close relationships and friendships that I form with the parents and the unconditional love that I get from the children. They make the job worthwhile. ‘I don’t like the paperwork! I don’t like that my house can’t be how I really want it to be – there would be too many safety issues! And I don’t like changing smelly nappies even after all these years!’

Telephone 023 9278 2726

eeping children of various ages amused during the holidays can be a daunting task for many mothers, especially for those not having relatives near by to help out. Someone to take the children for a walk, watch them while they play in the garden, help at bath time and do the bedtime story, hold the baby, help prepare meals, do the ironing, and be an invaluable help on outings when one pair of hands is just not enough. Help is at hand ! Belaf Language Study Holidays organises an ‘aide-maman’ programme in the summer. This is a ‘work for keep scheme’ with French students – sixth form or university – coming for three to five weeks to do their work experience in England and improve their fluency in the language. Belaf also supplies au-pairs for working mothers, homestay guests, and organises French exchanges. Visit their web sites and enjoy making new friends from France this summer: www.hostafrenchstudent.co.uk and www.french-exchange.co.uk.

SUMMER HOLIDAY ‘AIDE-MAMAN’ SCHEME French college or university students (17-19 yrs), studying English, who have chosen to come to England for 3-5 weeks for their work experience. This is a ‘live-in/ work for keep’ scheme and is a completely FREE service for mothers at home with young children. AU PAIRS FOR WORKING MOTHERS Both long-term and also summer holiday (4-10 weeks) placements. Carefully vetted girls and modest placement fees. HOMESTAY: Take a French child ( 11 – 16ys) into your family for 2/3 weeks this summer as a paying guest. Contact Carole to discuss your requirements: Tel: 01249 812551 Email: belaf@aol.com www.hostafrenchstudent.co.uk

On Wednesday 18th March, Cowdray in Midhurst re-opens for the forthcoming season. It will be open Wednesdays to Sundays, 10:30am-5pm, last admissions at 4pm. Entry includes an easy-to-use audio guide, a ﬁfteen minute ﬁlm in the vaulted cellar, a fully working Tudor kitchen, and fantastic views across Cowdray Park from the top of the kitchen tower. It is also open on Easter Monday. Adults £5.50, Children £3, Concessions £5, Family ticket (2+3) £13. For more information, visit www.cowdray.org.uk.

Healthy lifestyle activity kids camps Available in the area are these Ofsted registered healthy lifestyle activity day camps. Children take part in three multi-sport sessions including football, tennis, rounders, hockey, basketball, handball or dodgeball, a chill-out session of drama, arty activity or dance, a swim session (venue dependent) and ‘keeping the future ﬁt’ activities. Children are divided up into two age groups: 5-8 and 9-12. A standard day is 9:30am-4:30pm and costs £23. An extended day is 8:30am-5:30pm and costs £30. Easter Dates: Mountbatten Sports Centre, Alexandra Park, Twyford Ave, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO2 9QA: Monday 6th to Thursday 9th April, and Tueday 14th to Friday 17th April (5-12 years). Taro Leisure Centre, Penns Place, Petersﬁeld, Hampshire GU31 4EX: Monday 6th to Thursday 9th April, and Tuesday 14th to Friday 17th April (5-12 years). For full venue list and prices, call 0845 456 3233 or visit www.fitforsport.co.uk. ‘Early bird’ 10% booking discount: book by 13th March 2009 and quote ‘PLUM’.

March/April 2009 Families Solent East 7

out & about

History gets Horrible at the Kings Theatre

1 of 2 family tickets to the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum

hese Easter holidays you can enjoy family-friendly activities and celebrations at the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum in Singleton, West Sussex. Set in 50 acres of beautiful Sussex countryside, the Museum is a fascinating collection of nearly 50 historic buildings dating from the 13th to the 19th century. It is a great place for children to roam in safety and gain hands-on experience of the Museum’s buildings, gardens and animals. Spring is in the air at the museum and you can see newborn lambs, horses at work on seasonal tasks and a week of timber-related demonstrations in Woodyard Week. On Easter Monday there will be a bonnet competition and parade. For a chance to win a family ticket, just answer the following question:

Which Tudor king would have enjoyed the food prepared at the Tudor kitchens at the Weald and Downland Museum? Clue: he had six wives!

Send your answer along with your name, address and contact number to: Weald and Downland Museum, Families Solent East, PO Box 731, Southsea, PO1 9AR; or send an email with your answer and details to: competitions@familiessolenteast.co.uk, with ‘Weald and Downland Museum’ as your subject. Entries must be received by 10th April 2009. One entry per household.

f your family enjoy adventure and fun with a little dash of learning-something-new thrown in as well then you’re all going to have a ball at the brand new Horrible Histories shows coming to the Kings Theatre, Southsea, in March. The Birmingham Stage Company have already triumphed with stage versions of four of Terry Deary’s other hugely successful Horrible Histories books: the Tudors, Victorians, Egyptians and Romans. Using just four actors and amazing 3D Bogglevision, they are now undertaking their most ambitious task of bringing the First and Second World Wars alive to family audiences. Woeful Second World War tells the story of two children, Alf and Sally, who get evacuated to darkest Wales, away from the damp shelters and nightly bombings of their home city – only to encounter rotten rations, scary schools and even scarier new parents. In the second half of the show Alf and Sally deal with their new life and the audience wear 3D specs to see the amazing Bogglevision effects, getting ready to duck as the German bombers make their way to Coventry! Frightful First World War tells the story of 13 year old Angelica Taylor who while struggling with her history homework gets sucked into her computer and stuck in the Horrible Histories web site until she has travelled through the five years of the First World War. She’s helped by Private Paul Taylor, a 16 year old solider whom she meets in every year of the war. But if Angelica doesn’t complete a task, gets killed or fails to reach 1918 before the battery power runs out, she’ll be stuck inside her laptop forever. Look on page 12 of our What’s On to find out when you can see Horrible Histories at the Kings Theatre, or visit www.kings-southsea.com, or call 023 9282 8282.

Saturday 9th - Sunday 10th May 2009 • Traction Engines • Road Locomotives • Showman’s, organs and fairground attractions • Model Railways • Victorian Characters • Crafts, Real Ale and Sausage Festival • Featuring Featuring Ivor the Engine

Adults £12; Seniors (60+) £10; Children (5-15 years) £10; Under 5s Free; Family (up to 5 people, max 2 adults/seniors) £36 Ticket also includes entrance to the attractions at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard* * excludes Harbour Tours

100 years of the Red Cross in Hampshire Exhibition

Book tickets ! w o n e n li on Supported by

www.historicdockyard.co.uk t: 023 9283 9766 • enquiries@historicdockyard.co.uk

8 Families Solent East March/April 2009

rom 20th March to 27th September at Milestones Living History Museum. A commemoration of the Centenary of the Hampshire Branch of the British Red Cross, illustrating the beginning of the Red Cross humanitarian movement, its international development and the service given by volunteers in Hampshire in peace and war. Personal accounts take the visitor on an emotional journey through events that have shaped our history over the past hundred years and highlight the contribution made by the Red Cross. Call 01256 477 766 for more information.

www.familiessolenteast.co.uk

Celebration of Steam

Celebration of Steam at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is back for the fourth year running. The event takes place on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th May 2009 and visitors can discover more about the role that Portsmouth Historic Dockyard played during the 18th and 19th centuries when it was the greatest industrial complex in the world. Ivor the Engine, created by the late Oliver Postgate, returns for another steaming weekend. He will be joined by his friends including Edwin Jones the Steam, Idris the Dragon and Bluebell the Donkey. HMS Warrior 1860, which is powered by both steam and sail, will come alive with a skeleton crew at work and rest, representing the age of steam ships. The Steam Pinnace 199 will also provide displays in the harbour throughout the event. The SS Osborne, Queen Victoria’s steam boat, a steam powered bicycle and a gramophone will all be on display in Boathouse 4. Once again, the unusual sound of steam engines and a brass band will resonate throughout the Historic Dockyard as displays of traction engines, road locomotives, miniatures, steam boats, steam rollers, crane engines, model railways, steam fairground attractions and a ride-on railway ﬁll the site. A host of costumed dock workers will interact with the crowds, bringing the Historic Dockyard’s history to life and re-creating the age of steam with colourful characters. A sausage and ale festival located alongside HMS Victory will whet visitors’ appetites as they sample the many varieties of sausage and award winning ales on oﬀer. Ticket costs for the event are as follows: adults £12; concessions £10; family (up to 5 people, maximum of 2 adults/seniors) £36. Tickets include entrance to all attractions on site: HMS Warrior 1860, HMS Victory, Mary Rose, Royal Naval Museum and Action Stations (excludes Harbour Tours). For further information please telephone Advanced Sales on 023 9283 9766 or visit www.historicdockyard.co.uk.

Spinnaker Tower

ll residents with a PO postcode will be able to enjoy a lower priced trip to the iconic Spinnaker Tower when the attraction extends its Residents’ Discount parameters in the coming months. Until 30th June, householders with any postcode starting with PO will be able to visit the spectacular tower for just £4.80 instead of the normal price of £7.00 (adult prices). Children will cost just £4.20, and students and senior citizens will only be charged £4.50. The visitor attraction already oﬀers the Residents’ Discount to some PO postcode holders amounting to approximately 290,000 people in the locality, but Tower bosses have calculated that the extension will more than double the number of people able to take advantage of the discount, to a whopping 770,000 people. A typical resident family will eﬀectively save up to £7 on a trip to see the incredible views stretching out for up to 23 miles over the historic harbour, the Solent and the Isle of Wight. Visit www.spinnakertower.co.uk for more information.

Isle of Wight Owl Isle of Wight National Trust and Falconry Centre

ew for 2009, the National Trust on the Isle of Wight has a Soldier Trail for young children at the Needles Old Battery. Can you ﬁnd Major Mindup and his Gunners? Also, you can be a garden detective at Mottistone Manor Garden with the revised and updated Family Discovery Pack (free to borrow for the duration of your visit) – not forgetting the ever popular ﬂowerpot men trail. Great fun for the little ones MOTTISTONE MANOR GARDEN Sun to Thurs from 15 March 11am - 5pm * Flowerpot trail * NEW family discovery packs EASTER EGG TRAIL Sun 12 Apr 11am - 4pm. Normal admission plus £1.50 per trail sheet

NEEDLES OLD BATTERY Daily from 14 Mar 10.30am - 5pm NEW FOR 2009 - SOLDIER TRAIL and revised family discovery packs EASTER EGG TRAIL Mon 13 Apr 10.30am - 4pm Normal admission plus £1.50 per trail sheet Last admission to both properties is 4.30pm For more information visit: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/isleofwight or call 01983 741302 for MMG or 754772 for the Needles

Registered charity no. 205846

Telephone 023 9278 2726

njoy a great day out for all the family at The Owl and Falconry Centre at Appuldurcombe House. The birds are the ‘stars’ of the show and Vivienne, the Milky Eagle Owl, is a great favourite, especially with the children. You can also see the Eagles, Kites, Buzzards and Vultures, together with the many diﬀerent Owls here. Appuldurcombe House and its eleven acre grounds at Wroxall near Ventnor are great for play and picnics. New this year there is a Nature Trail as the grounds are a haven for wildlife, especially for red squirrels. Open daily from 1st April to 30th September, 10am-4pm, with ﬂying displays every day (indoors when wet). Lots of special events throughout the year. Call on 01983 852 484 or 01983 840 188 or visit www.appuldurcombe.co.uk. For your chance to win a family ticket just answer the following question:

What type of owl is Vivienne? Send your answer along with your name and address to: Owl and Falconry Centre, Families Solent East, PO Box 731, Southsea, PO1 9AR; or send an email with your answer and details to: competitions@familiessolenteast.co.uk, with ‘Owl and Falconry Centre’ as your subject. Entries must be received by 10th April. One entry per household.

Do something out of the ordinary

March/April 2009 Families Solent East 9

1 of 4

INTECH is an award-winning Science Centre and Planetarium in the heart of Hampshire. With 100 interactive exhibits demonstrating the science and technology of the world around us it is a fantastic hands-on way for families to explore together. And it’s all indoors – perfect for a great day out whatever the weather! Since 1969, when Neil Armstrong took those ﬁrst historic steps, we have felt an even closer connection to the moon. And with the impressive Planetarium at Intech Science Centre, visitors too can experience space without leaving Hampshire. It is an amazing immersive experience, with a screen so huge that it covers the ceiling and sides of the dome. Here visitors can learn about planets, asteroids and galaxies, and enjoy a new show, ‘Astronaut’.

family tickets to the

INTECH

Science Centre and Planetarium

out & about

10 Families Solent East March/April 2009

For your chance to win one of four family tickets to the Intech Science Centre and Planetarium just answer the following question:

In what year did Neil Armstrong become the first man to walk on the Moon? Send your answer along with your name and address to: INTECH, Families Solent East, PO Box 731, Southsea, PO1 9AR; or email your details and answer to: competitions@familiessolenteast.co.uk, with ‘INTECH’ as your subject. Only one entry per household. Entries must be received by 17th April 2009.

www.familiessolenteast.co.uk

what’s on MARCH

MONDAY 9th- SUNDAY 15th National Science Week

East and North Streets, 9am-2pm

The chance to become a marine biologist and take part in some observational and hands-on experiments around the aquarium.

SATURDAY 7th The Sun has got his Hat On 2-6 yrs

Nuﬃeld Theatre, Southampton 023 8067 1771 , www.nuﬃeldtheatre.co.uk

A sing-along romp of musical storytelling inspired by tales and rhythms of the Caribbean.

Short fun sessions. Edible art!

FRIDAY 13th Steam Gala

Mini Makers 5-8 yrs

Creative art sessions. Edible art.

Science in Action

Mary Rose Museum, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, 11am-12 noon and 2-4pm 023 9283 9766, www.historicdockyard.co.uk For National Science Week.

Busy Bees

Intech Science Centre, nr Winchester, 10am-4pm 01962 863 791, www.intech-uk.com

A full day of bee activities including make your own bee nest, arts and crafts, face painting and honey-tasting.

Engine Shed Open Weekend Exbury Gardens 023 8089 9422, www.exbury.co.uk

Visit the engine shed, and enjoy the beginning of spring in the Gardens.

Mother’s Day Oﬀer

Vision Photography, New Road, Portsmouth 023 9262 0140 to book, www.visionphotostudio.com

Free shoot and a 10" x 8" mounted print for £10.

SUNDAY 8th The Sun Has Got His Hat On 3-7 yrs

New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth, 2pm, £5 023 9264 9000, www.newtheatreroyal.com

Comical tales and colourful animal puppets from land, sea and sky.

Science in Action

V our w isit e for ev bsite and s ents pe offers cial

Intech Science Centre, nr Winchester, 6pm 01962 863 791 to book, www.intech-uk.com

An introduction to the remarkable advances that have been made in our understanding of the universe, and also to the questions that remain, some of which might never be answered.

Aspex Gallery, Portsmouth, 11am-12noon, £3 023 9277 8080 to book, www.aspex.org.uk

PORTSMOUTH

WEDNESDAY 11th What Can We Know About the Universe? Ages 11+

Fridge Magnet Artists up to 5 yrs

Aspex Gallery, Portsmouth, 10-10:45am, £3 023 9277 8080 to book, www.aspex.org.uk

SPINNAKER TOWER

Blue Reef Aquarium, Portsmouth 023 9287 5222, www.bluereefaquarium.co.uk

Watercress Line 01962 733 810 to book, www.watercressline.co.uk

Featuring many visiting locomotives.

SATURDAY 14th Rome-The Empire Strikes Back 5-12 yrs

Nuﬃeld Theatre, Southampton www.nuﬃeldtheatre.co.uk, 023 8067 1771

A complete history of Rome in 48 minutes!

Lily and the Magical Moonbeam 4-7 yrs

Havant Arts Centre,1:30pm 023 9247 2700, www.havantartscentre.co.uk

A bewitching tale about true friendship.

Beach Art and Jewellery

Making Space, Leigh Park, 10am-1pm 023 9247 2491, www.makingspace.org

Bring along some shells and other seaside treasures to create your own beach art and jewellery.

Meet a Rocketman

Needles New Battery, 12 noon-2pm www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Meet one of the men who used to work there and fi nd out what it was like to be involved in Britain’s race for space. Part of National Science Week.

Mother’s Day Oﬀer

Vision Photography, Portsmouth As Saturday 7th listing above.

NCT Nearly New Sale

Titchﬁeld Community Centre, Mill Street, 10:30am-12 noon 0844 243 6130, tinyurl.com/nct-fareham

spinnakertower.co.uk

FRIDAY 6th Chichester Farmer’s Market

We aim to be as accurate as possible, but the listings on pages 11 to 16 are compiled several weeks beforehand and may be subject to change. Please contact venues in advance to check details.

Open Daily from 10AM

BOOK NOW

023 9285 7520

Book online & save 10% at spinnakertower.co.uk

Steam Gala

Watercress Line As Friday 13th listing above.

SUNDAY 15th Cloudcuckooland Ages 5+

Needles New Battery As Saturday 14th listing above.

New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth, 2pm, £5 023 9264 9000, www.newtheatreroyal.com

Swift and McFly are fed up of the dirty, stinking town that they live in, so they decide to found a new city in the sky with the birds: Cloudcuckooland.

Family Event

Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, nr Romsey, FREE 01794 522 106 to book, www.hilliergardens.org.uk

Spring activities as part of National Science and Engineering Week.

Hampshire Farmer’s Market

Palmerston Road, Southsea, 10am-2pm

Science in Action

Mary Rose Museum, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard As Saturday 7th listing above.

Kit out your kids for less at this popular sale. Priority entrance for NCT members on production of a valid membership card.

Mary Rose Museum, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard As Saturday 7th listing above.

Engine Shed Open Weekend

Science in Action

Rome-The Empire Strikes Back 5-12 yrs

Exbury Gardens As Saturday 7th listing above.

Telephone 023 9278 2726

Mary Rose Museum, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard As Saturday 7th listing above.

Steam Gala

Watercress Line As Friday 13th listing above.

Nuﬃeld Theatre, Southampton As Saturday 14th listing above.

Meet a Rocketman

TUESDAY 17th Baby Sensory Free Taster Session Newborn to 13 months Titchﬁeld Community Centre, Mill Street 023 8032 5982 (Helen Dicks), southamptoneast@babysensory.co.uk.

Come and have fun at our Magic Show. More details can be found at www.babysensory.co.uk.

THURSDAY 19th Scooby-Doo and the Pirate Ghost Mayﬂower Theatre, Southampton 023 8071 1811, www.mayﬂower.org.uk

If it wasn’t for you meddling kids…

FRIDAY 20th Chichester Farmer’s Market

East and North Streets, 9am-2pm

Scooby-Doo and the Pirate Ghost

Mayﬂower Theatre, Southampton As Thursday 19th listing above.

March/April 2009 Families Solent East 11

what’s on

We aim to be as accurate as possible, but the listings on pages 11 to 16 are compiled several weeks beforehand and may be subject to change. Please contact venues in advance to check details. Mother’s Day

Royal Marines Museum, Southsea 023 9281 9385, www.royalmarinesmuseum.co.uk

All mothers accompanied with children will receive free entry into the award-winning museum.

Mother’s Day Cream Teas

Open House

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat

£2 entry for everyone, plus a bunch of daffodils for mothers and grandmothers.

Mother’s Day Specials

Isle of Wight Steam Railway, Havenstreet 01983 885 923, www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk

Travel on the painstakingly restored locomotives along the five miles of railway.

Daﬀodil Day

Stansted Park www.stanstedpark.co.uk

Free house entry for all Mums 1-4pm. See the drifts of daffodils and enjoy the House Preview Opening.

Tudor Life Ashore

Mary Rose Museum, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard As Saturday 21st listing above.

Le Salon du Chocolat, Stansted Park, 2pm, £15 023 9241 3350 to book, www.lesalonduchocolat.co.uk

Each child will mould and decorate a box out of chocolate and then fi ll it with solid chocolate flowers before hand wrapping it ready to present to their Mum on Sunday. Each child will also go away with a bag of flowers to eat for themselves!

Art Club 9-13 yrs

Aspex Gallery, Portsmouth, 10:30am-12 noon, £4 023 9277 8080 to book, www.aspex.org.uk

Any colour as long as it is red!

Tudor Life Ashore

Mary Rose Museum, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, 11am-12 noon and 2-4pm 023 9283 9766, www.historicdockyard.co.uk

Mother’s Day Oﬀer

Vision Photography, Portsmouth As Saturday 7th listing above.

Scooby-Doo and the Pirate Ghost

Mayﬂower Theatre, Southampton As Thursday 19th listing above.

12 Families Solent East March/April 2009

New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth, 2pm, £5 023 9264 9000, www.newtheatreroyal.com

Enter the strange and bizarre universe of a wild balloon tamer where surreal and stupid things happen.

Mother’s Day Treat Ages 6+

Le Salon du Chocolat, Stansted Park, 10:30am, £18 023 9241 3350 to book, www.lesalonduchocolat.co.uk

As Saturday 21st listing above, but mums can relax in the Pavilion Tearooms with tea and cake. Price includes voucher for Tearooms.

Victorian Storytelling

MONDAY 23rd Horrible Histories – Frightful First World War

Kings Theatre, Southsea, 1:30pm 023 9282 8282, www.kings-southsea.com

Experience the front line of the worst war ever, using actors and amazing 3D special effects.

Horrible Histories – Woeful Second World War

Kings Theatre, Southsea, 7pm 023 9282 8282, www.kings-southsea.com

From the brutal Blitz to the soggy shelters, join young Alf and Sally as they are evacuated to darkest Wales.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat

Mayﬂower Theatre, Southampton 023 8071 1811, www.mayﬂower.org.uk

HMS Warrior 1860, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, 11am, 12 noon, 2pm and 3pm 023 9283 9766, www.historicdockyard.co.uk

Starring Craig Chalmers, one of the fi nalists in the BBC series, ‘Any Dream Will Do’.

Mother’s Day

Victorian Storytelling

Blue Reef Aquarium, Portsmouth 023 9287 5222, www.bluereefaquarium.co.uk

Find out all about fishy mums! Every mum with a full paying child gets in free.

Horrible Histories – Woeful Second World War

Kings Theatre, Southsea, 10:30am and 7pm As Monday 23rd listing above.

Weald and Downland Open Air Museum, Singleton 01243 811 348, www.wealddown.co.uk

MOTHER’S DAY: SUNDAY 22nd Lighter Than Air Ages 5+

Kings Theatre, Southsea, 1:30pm As Monday 23rd listing above.

Watercress Line 01962 733 810 to book, www.watercressline.co.uk

Treat your mother to a delicious lunch or cream tea on board a steam train.

SATURDAY 21st Chocolates for Mother’s Day Ages 6+

TUESDAY 24th Horrible Histories – Frightful First World War

HMS Warrior 1860, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, 11am, 12 noon, 2pm and 3pm As Sunday 22nd listing above.

Mayﬂower Theatre, Southampton As Monday 23rd listing above.

WEDNESDAY 25th Horrible Histories – Frightful First World War

Kings Theatre, Southsea, 7pm As Monday 23rd listing above.

Horrible Histories – Woeful Second World War

Kings Theatre, Southsea, 10am As Monday 23rd listing above.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat

Mayﬂower Theatre, Southampton As Monday 23rd listing above.

THURSDAY 26th Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat

Mayﬂower Theatre, Southampton As Monday 23rd listing above.

FRIDAY 27th Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat

Mayﬂower Theatre, Southampton As Monday 23rd listing above.

SATURDAY 28th Frames: inside/outside 5-10 yrs

Pallant House Gallery, Chichester, 10am-12 noon, £6 01243 774 557 to book

Take a look through John Armstrong’s ‘The Open Door’ and make pictures that have windows, doors or fun frames.

Knots and Rigging

Mary Rose Museum, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, 11am-12 noon and 2-4pm 023 9283 9766, www.historicdockyard.co.uk Try your hand at knots.

Winter Camp Weekend

Cowdray Ruins, Midhurst, 10:30am-4pm www.cowdray.org.uk

Both sides of the American Colonial Wars in the mid-eighteenth century descend upon Cowdray for their winter camp meeting. Come and meet soldiers and civilians, both French and English, and possibly some of their Native American allies.

www.familiessolenteast.co.uk

Midhurst Farmer’s Market

Capron House Car Park, 1:30am-1:30pm

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat

SATURDAY 4th to SUNDAY 19th Easter Egg-stravaganza Beaulieu 01590 612 345, www.beaulieu.co.uk

Mayﬂower Theatre, Southampton As Monday 23rd listing above.

Fun Easter activities for all the family, including a brilliant Easter trail.

SUNDAY 29th First the Worst, Second the Best Ages 5+

Easter Egg Trail

New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth, 2pm, £5 023 9264 9000, www.newtheatreroyal.com

Th is fun production uses music, theatre, movement and mask to follow three characters as they prepare themselves for sports day, with varying outcomes.

Knots and Rigging

Mary Rose Museum, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard As Saturday 28th listing above.

Winter Camp Weekend Cowdray Ruins, Midhurst As Saturday 28th listing above.

TUESDAY 31st Romeo and Juliet

Kings Theatre, Southsea, 1:30pm and 7:30pm 023 9282 8282, www.kings-southsea.com

Shakespeare 4 Kidz brings the most famous love story in the world to life in a vibrant and fun-fi lled production.

APRIL

WEDNESDAY 1st The Tempest

Kings Theatre, Southsea, 10:30am and 1:30pm 023 9282 8282, www.kings-southsea.com Shakespeare 4 Kidz brings this mystical, magical and musical romantic comedy to life.

THURSDAY 2nd Family Fun Day

Portsdown Area Children’s Centre, 10am-2pm See ad on page 19 for more details.

FRIDAY 3rd Chichester Farmer’s Market

East and North Streets, 9am-2pm

Easter holidays SATURDAY 4th to MONDAY 13th Days Out With Thomas

Watercress Line 01962 733 810 to book, www.watercressline.co.uk

Short rides with Diesel, Thomas and Toad, live entertainment with Mr Wizard shows, spot Mr Topham Hatt and the Fat Controller. Free colouring competition. And much more!

Telephone 023 9278 2726

HMS Warrior 1860, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, 10am-4:30pm 023 9283 9766, www.historicdockyard.co.uk

Follow the family trail around HMS Warrior 1860. Free with a valid attraction ticket.

Mary Rose Museum Highlight Tours

Mary Rose Museum, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, 10:30am and 4pm 023 9283 9766, www.historicdockyard.co.uk

Take a guided tour of the Museum with a costumed guide. No booking necessary.

Predators

Blue Reef Aquarium, Portsmouth 023 9287 5222, www.bluereefaquarium.co.uk

Discover the amazing techniques different species have evolved to catch their prey.

Spectacular Spring!

Staunton Country Park, Havant 023 9245 3405

Visit the new arrivals at the farm. A range of seasonal activities and crafts including a spring trail.

Theway we were

Visit www.hampshiretopattractions.co.uk for more information and discount vouchers.

Our ancestors’ homes and the way they built them, their animals and the way they raised them, their crops and flowers and the way they grew them... Explore the Museum’s village, working watermill and superb collection of rescued buildings set in glorious Sussex countryside. Visit the lakeside café, take the dog for a walk (on a lead please), bring a picnic and choose your spot (by the millpond is perfect). Children are free to run, play and learn. Come and discover six centuries of our rural heritage. W EALD & DOW N L AN D OPE N A IR MU SEU M

Singleton, Chichester, West Sussex PO18 0EU There are special events throughout the year. 01243 811348 www.wealddown.co.uk

Woodyard Week

Weald and Downland Open Air Museum, Singleton 01243 811 348, www.wealddown.co.uk

A week of timber-related demonstrations.

MONDAY 6th to FRIDAY 17th Easter Holiday Egg-stars Manor Farm Country Park, nr Bursledon, 10am-5pm 01489 787 055

A fortnight of fun on the farm. Go back to school with a Victorian school lesson; join the farmer for a daily interactive farmyard walk; search for the hidden eggs on the Golden Goose Egg Trail; meet the farm animals; watch the cows being milked; get creative with children’s arts and crafts activities in the farmhouse and more.

SATURDAY 4th Circo de la Sombra

Mid Hants Railway Ltd Alresford SO24 9JG, Ropley SO24 0BL or Alton GU34 2PZ.

4-13 April 2009 9.30am - 4.30pm Go to www.watercressline.co.uk Or call 01962 733810 for more information.

Nuﬃeld Theatre, Southampton, 3pm and 7:30pm www.nuﬃeldtheatre.co.uk, 023 8067 1771

Circus fun for all the family.

The Frog Princess Ages 5+ Quay Arts Centre, Newport, 2pm 01983 822 490, www.quayarts.org

A heart-warming story with storytelling, puppetry and vibrant live Eastern European gypsy music.

March/April 2009 Families Solent East 13

what’s on Fridge Magnet Artists up to 5 yrs

Aspex Gallery, Portsmouth, 10-10:45am, £3 023 9277 8080 to book, www.aspex.org.uk Light, shape and colour.

Mini Makers 5-8 yrs

Aspex Gallery, Portsmouth, 11am-12noon, £3 023 9277 8080 to book, www.aspex.org.uk Cut out and stick with attitude!

Mad Hats!

Quay Arts Centre, Newport, 10am-12 noon and 1-3pm 01983 822 490, www.quayarts.org

Make a superbly mad hat!

SUNDAY 5th Easter Bunny Trail 5-11 yrs

Sustainability Centre, East Meon, 1-3pm, £5 01730 823 166 to book, www.sustainability-centre.org Trail and chocolate egg prizes. Crafts and decorated biscuits.

Hampshire Farmer’s Market

Market Square, Petersﬁeld, 10am-2pm

Circo de la Sombra

Nuﬃeld Theatre, Southampton As Saturday 4th listing above.

MONDAY 6th Creepy Crawlies: Part 1 5-7 yrs

Havant Arts Centre, 10am-3pm 023 9247 2700 to book, www.havantartscentre.co.uk

Popular workshop involving art and drama.

Birds on a Wire 8-12 yrs

Havant Arts Centre, 10am-3pm 023 9247 2700 to book, www.havantartscentre.co.uk

Popular workshop involving art and crafts.

Cardboard Sculptures Ages 8+

Quay Arts Centre, Newport, 10am-2:30pm 01983 822 490, www.quayarts.org

Make something fantastical out of cardboard.

Plant Hunter Tour

Exbury Gardens, 11:45am and 2:30pm 023 8089 9422, www.exbury.co.uk

Join the storyteller, ‘George Forrest’, legendary plant explorer of the early 20th century. Hear hair-raising tales of uprisings, death and glory in the Yunnan as he quests to bring back new plants and seedlings to England.

TUESDAY 7th Charlotte’s Web

Theatre Royal, Winchester 01962 840 440, www.theatre-royal-winchester.co.uk

The much loved story of the extraordinary friendship between Wilbur, a pig, and Charlotte, a self-sacrificing spider.

14 Families Solent East March/April 2009

Creepy Crawlies: Part 2 5-7 yrs

Havant Arts Centre, 10am-3pm 023 9247 2700 to book, www.havantartscentre.co.uk

Workshop involving art and drama.

Clay Aliens and Astronauts Ages 7+

Making Space, Leigh Park, 10am-12noon, £6.50 023 9247 2491, www.makingspace.org

Draw the strangest alien or heroic astronaut you can and recreate it in clay.

Giant Lines Ages 8+

Havant Arts Centre, 10am-3pm 023 9247 2700 to book, www.havantartscentre.co.uk

Workshop involving art and crafts.

Black Holes, Black Magic and Insterstellar Travel Ages 11+

Intech Science Centre, nr Winchester, 6pm 01962 863 791 to book, www.intech-uk.com

Quay Arts Centre, Newport, 10am-2:30pm 01983 822 490, www.quayarts.org

Addressing the topics of gravity and relativity, their role in various cosmic bodies including black holes and their implications for travel over cosmic distances, illustrating some of the issues using magic effects.

Springy Hip-Hop 8-12 yrs

Wildzone: Brickmaking and Salt Pan Nature Trail 5-13 yrs

A chance to let loose and draw in a big empty gallery space.

Havant Arts Centre, 10am-3pm 023 9247 2700 to book, www.havantartscentre.co.uk

Dancing workshop.

Girls and Boys Come Out To Play

HMS Warrior 1860, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, 11am-4:30pm 023 9283 9766, www.historicdockyard.co.uk

Victorian toys, board and parlour games for all the family to enjoy. Drop-in activity.

Commando Fit

Royal Marines Museum, Southsea, 11am and 1pm 023 9281 9385, www.royalmarinesmuseum.co.uk

Have you got what it takes to be a Royal Marines Commando? Try out some activities to see what it is like physically and mentally.

Red Cross

Milestones Living History Museum, Basingstoke 01256 477 766

Drop in sessions from the Red Cross for families.

Weaving Springtime 5-16 yrs

Pallant House Gallery, Chichester, 10am-12pm and 1-3pm, FREE 01243 774 557 to book

Create a beautiful woven piece of art using paper and spring-themed objects. Bring some small, lightweight objects to weave into your artwork.

Plant Hunter Tour

Exbury Gardens As Monday 6th listing above.

WEDNESDAY 8th Storm in an Eggcup!

Royal Naval Museum, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, 11am-1pm and 2-4pm 023 9283 9766, www.historicdockyard.co.uk

Make a unique Easter decoration inspired by ships and tales of the sea.

Bugs and Beetles 5-7 yrs

Havant Arts Centre, 10am-3pm 023 9247 2700 to book, www.havantartscentre.co.uk

Workshop involving art and crafts.

Newtown, 1pm, £5 per Discovery Pack 01983 741 020 to book, www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Get hands-on with Newtown estuary’s history by making clay bricks. Join the warden to explore wildlife around the old salt pans.

Commando Fit

Royal Marines Museum, Southsea As Tuesday 7th listing above.

Red Cross

Milestones Living History Museum, Basingstoke As Tuesday 7th listing above.

Plant Hunter Tour

Exbury Gardens As Monday 6th listing above.

Charlotte’s Web

Theatre Royal, Winchester As Tuesday 7th listing above.

THURSDAY 9th Vibrant Victory

HMS Victory, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, 11am-1pm and 2-4pm 023 9283 9766, www.historicdockyard.co.uk

Get creative with some fun, nautical-themed craft activities.

Junk-tastic Aliens Ages 7+

Making Space, Leigh Park, 10am-12 noon, £6.50 023 9247 2491, www.makingspace.org

Red Cross

Milestones Living History Museum, Basingstoke As Tuesday 7th listing above.

GOOD FRIDAY 10th Easter Egg Workshops Ages 6+

Le Salon du Chocolat, Stansted Park, 10am, 12:30pm and 3pm, £15 023 9241 3350 to book, www.lesalonduchocolat.co.uk

Make a large single Easter egg or several smaller hen eggs. Use coloured chocolate to decorate them before hand wrapping and taking home.

On the Trail of the Chocolate Egg

Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, nr Romsey www.hilliergardens.org.uk

Solve puzzles around the gardens to win an Easter prize.

Easter at the Museum

Weald and Downland Open Air Museum, Singleton 01243 811 348, www.wealddown.co.uk

Activities and Easter celebrations for all the family.

Easter Eggstravaganza

Staunton Country Park, Havant 023 9245 3405

Easter trail, encounter sessions, fun activities and crafts.

Plant Hunter Tour

Exbury Gardens As Monday 6th listing above.

SATURDAY 11th Alien Sock Buddies Ages 7+

Making Space, Leigh Park, 10am-1pm 023 9247 2491, www.makingspace.org

Make some crazy aliens using old socks and lots of imagination.

Spring Festival

Butser Ancient Farm, 10am-5pm 0233 9259 8838, www.butserancientfarm.co.uk

Enjoy a visit to the ancient farm on one of its special open-weekends.

Easter Egg Workshops Ages 6+

Le Salon du Chocolat, Stansted Park, 10am and 12:3-pm As Friday 10th listing above.

Use all sorts of weird and wonderful junk and craft y things to create a wacky alien.

Easter at Exbury

Girls and Boys Come Out To Play

Spot the Easter Bunnies from the Steam Railway. Fun garden trails and colouring competitions with prizes.

HMS Warrior 1860, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard As Tuesday 7th listing above.

Commando Fit

Royal Marines Museum, Southsea As Tuesday 7th listing above.

Plant Hunter Tour

Exbury Gardens As Monday 6th listing above.

Exbury Gardens 023 8089 9422, www.exbury.co.uk

Blackgang Smugglers’ Treasure Hunt

Blackgang Chine, nr Ventnor 01983 730 052, www.blackgangchine.com

Pick up a free smuggler’s map and solve the clues to fi nd where the treasure is hidden. A chance to win 100 pieces of gold coins (£100).

www.familiessolenteast.co.uk

Visit www.hampshiretopattractions.co.uk for more information and discount vouchers. Families:SOLENT EAST

On the Trail of the Chocolate Egg

Weald and Downland Open Air Museum, Singleton As Friday 10th listing above.

Easter at the Museum

Easter Eggstravaganza

Weald and Downland Open Air Museum, Singleton As Friday 10th listing above.

Staunton Country Park, Havant As Friday 10th listing above plus egg hunt to meet the Easter Bunny!

Easter Eggstravaganza

Spring Festival

Staunton Country Park, Havant As Friday 10th listing above.

Butser Ancient Farm As Saturday 11th listing above.

EASTER SUNDAY 12th Easter Egg Trail

Blackgang Smugglers’ Treasure Hunt

A self-guided trail all around the Dockyard. Help solve the clues to fi nd the hidden Easter egg pictures. All Easter egg detectives receive a small prize.

Creative Crafts for Easter Time

Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, nr Romsey www.hilliergardens.org.uk

Make fun crafts to take home.

Stansted House Easter Egg Hunt

Stansted House www.stanstedpark.co.uk

The house opens for 2009 (Sundays and Mondays, 1-4pm). Enjoy an Easter Egg Hunt organised at the Pavilion Tea Room in the walled gardens.

The Joys of Spring

Manor Farm Country Park, nr Bursledon, 10am-5pm 01489 787 055

EASTER MONDAY 13th Tweenies Live! Top to the Tots

Kings Theatre, Southsea, 4:30pm 023 9282 8282, www.kings-southsea.com

A new show with plenty of fantastic catchy tunes.

Easter Egg Trail

Needles Old Battery, 10:30am-4pm www.nationaltrust.org.uk

A fun family trail. Normal admission plus £1.50 per trail sheet.

Easter at Exbury

Exbury Gardens As Saturday 11th listing above.

On the Trail of the Chocolate Egg

Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, nr Romsey As Friday 10th listing above.

Creative Crafts for Easter Time

Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, nr Romsey As Sunday 12th listing above.

Norman Knights and Crusaders

Easter at the Museum

Learn about life in the early years of Arundel Castle with weapons, armour and combat demonstrations.

Easter Egg Trail

Mottistone Manor Garden, 11am-4pm www.nationaltrust.org.uk

A fun family trail. Normal admission plus £1.50 per trail sheet.

Easter Egg Hunt

Appuldurcombe House, Wroxall, 10am-12 noon 01983 840 188, www.appuldurcombe.co.uk

Thousands of chocolate eggs are hidden in the grounds – can you fi nd them?

Easter at Exbury

Exbury Gardens As Saturday 11th listing above.

On the Trail of the Chocolate Egg

Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, nr Romsey As Friday 10th listing above.

Telephone 023 9278 2726

Page 1

Blackgang Chine, nr Ventnor As Friday 11th listing above.

Meet the latest spring arrivals down on the farm, including newborn lambs, chicks, calves and piglets.

Arundel Castle 01903 882 173, www.arundelcastle.org

15:42

Easter at the Museum

Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, nr Romsey As Friday 10th listing above.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, 10am-3pm 023 9283 9766, www.historicdockyard.co.uk

17/2/09

Weald and Downland Open Air Museum, Singleton As Friday 10th listing above, plus bonnet competition and parade.

Easter Eggstravaganza

Staunton Country Park, Havant As Friday 10th listing above plus egg hunt to meet the Easter Bunny!

Spring Festival

Butser Ancient Farm As Saturday 11th listing above.

Norman Knights and Crusaders

Arundel Castle As Saturday 12th listing above.

NEW EXHIBITION open for Easter

open every day from 10am

National Motor Museum, Palace House & Gardens and Beaulieu Abbey included in entry Beaulieu, Hampshire SO42 7ZN

www.beaulieu.co.uk TUESDAY 14th Space Mobiles Ages 7+

Making Space, Leigh Park, 10am-12 noon, £6.50 023 9247 2491, www.makingspace.org

Using wire, beads and junk material, create a hanging space scene.

Alien Movie Madness Ages 7+

Making Space, Leigh Park, 10am-12 noon, £50 023 9247 2491, www.makingspace.org

A 4-day workshop (ending on Friday 17th) where you can direct, fi lm, edit, and star in your own alien movie. Take away a DVD of your fi lm.

Tweenies Live! Top to the Tots

Kings Theatre, Southsea, 11am and 2pm As Monday 13th listing above.

Girls and Boys Come Out To Play

The Joys of Spring

HMS Warrior 1860, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard As Tuesday 7th listing above.

Blackgang Smugglers’ Treasure Hunt

Commando Fit

Manor Farm Country Park, Bursledon As Sunday 12th listing above.

Blackgang Chine, nr Ventnor As Friday 11th listing above.

Royal Marines Museum, Southsea As Tuesday 7th listing above.

Red Cross

Milestones Living History Museum, Basingstoke As Tuesday 7th listing above.

Exit 2 M27

01590 612345

WEDNESDAY 15th The Railway Children Ages 5+

Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham, 2:30pm www.ashcroft.org.uk, 01329 223 100

Audience participation helps bring this much-loved classic to life.

Figure it out!

Royal Naval Museum, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, 11am-1pm and 2-4pm 023 9283 9766, www.historicdockyard.co.uk

Model and decorate your own mini-figurehead or ship’s badge to take home.

Dressing up the Past 5-16 yrs

Pallant House Gallery, Chichester, 10am-12pm and 1-3pm, FREE 01243 774 557 to book

Make 2ft tall flat, standing figures from cardboard and clothe them in historical costume.

Spring Painting 5-7 yrs

Havant Arts Centre, 10am-3pm 023 9247 2700 to book, www.havantartscentre.co.uk

Workshop involving art and craft.

Space-age Back Packs Ages 7+

Making Space, Leigh Park, 10am-12 noon, £6.50 023 9247 2491, www.makingspace.org

Design and decorate a space themed backpack.

March/April 2009 Families Solent East 15

what’s on Magic Means 5-11 yrs

Sustainability Centre, East Meon, 1-3pm, £7 01730 823 166 to book, www.sustainability-centre.org

Weird and wonderful hats, clay wizard heads, map sticks and mobiles.

The Big Birthday Cake

Quay Arts Centre, Newport, 10am-1pm 01983 822 490, www.quayarts.org

Help artists decorate the Learning Curve Big Birthday Cake, which will form the centrepiece in the gallery’s 10th Birthday Exhibition (18th April to 16th May), or make little cakes to decorate the gallery.

Hunter and Hunted 8-12 yrs

Havant Arts Centre, 10am-3pm 023 9247 2700 to book, www.havantartscentre.co.uk

Drama workshop.

Tiny Wildzone: Easter Lambs and Eggs 3-7 yrs Newtown, 12:45pm, £2.50 01983 741 020 to book, www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Meet the sheep and see if the gulls have laid eggs at Newtown. Make a Easter lamb with real wool from a National Trust sheep to take home.

‘Quest of Light’ Storytelling

Butser Ancient Farm, 11am-3:30pm 023 9259 8838, www.butserancientfarm.co.uk

Easter holiday fun at the farm, with storytelling and maypole dancing.

Wildzone: Watch the Birdie! 5-13 yrs

Newtown, 11am, £5 per Discovery Pack 01983 741 020 to book, www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Learn about the birds breeding and feeding around Newtown estuary.

Girls and Boys Come Out To Play

HMS Warrior 1860, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard As Tuesday 7th listing above.

Vibrant Victory

HMS Victory, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard As Thursday 9th listing above.

Commando Fit

Royal Marines Museum, Southsea As Tuesday 7th listing above.

Red Cross

Tweenies Live! Top to the Tots

Milestones Living History Museum, Basingstoke As Tuesday 7th listing above.

Commando Fit

FRIDAY 17th Hoof! Ages 3+

Kings Theatre, Southsea, 11am As Monday 13th listing above.

Royal Marines Museum, Southsea As Tuesday 7th listing above.

Red Cross

Milestones Living History Museum, Basingstoke As Tuesday 7th listing above.

THURSDAY 16th Horseplay 3-5 yrs

Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham, 11am, 12:30pm, 2pm and 4pm 01329 223 100, www.ashcroft.org.uk

Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham 01329 223 100, www.ashcroft.org.uk

Alone in her stable a pony dreams of a better life. Told with puppets, tap dancing hooves and nostalgic TV clips of Black Beauty, Mr Ed and Champion the Wonder Horse.

Sting Like a Bee 5-7 yrs

Havant Arts Centre, 10am-3pm 023 9247 2700 to book, www.havantartscentre.co.uk

Workshop involving art and dance.

Fly Like a Butterﬂy 8-12 yrs

Join multi-talented Niki McCretton inside a lifelike stable to explore and imagine all kinds of pony tales. Lights, music and puppets transform a den into a theatrical adventure.

Workshop involving art and dance.

Silk and Steps 5-7 yrs

Chichester Farmer’s Market

Havant Arts Centre, 10am-3pm 023 9247 2700 to book, www.havantartscentre.co.uk

Workshop involving art and dance.

Silk and Swing 8-12 yrs

Havant Arts Centre, 10am-3pm 023 9247 2700 to book, www.havantartscentre.co.uk

East and North Streets, 9am-2pm

Red Cross

Milestones Living History Museum, Basingstoke As Tuesday 7th listing above.

Havant Arts Centre, 10am-3pm 023 9247 2700 to book, www.havantartscentre.co.uk

‘Quest of Light’ Storytelling

Star Jewellery Ages 7+

SATURDAY 18th I’ve Lost My Head 3-5 yrs

Workshop involving art and dance.

Making Space, Leigh Park, 10am-12 noon, £6.50 023 9247 2491, www.makingspace.org Design and make a cool jewellery set using colourful plastic and a leather thong.

16 Families Solent East March/April 2009

Butser Ancient Farm As Thursday 16th listing above.

Nuﬃeld Theatre, Southampton www.nuﬃeldtheatre.co.uk, 023 8067 1771

A fascinating adventure into the human mind and body, drawing upon animation, sound and puppetry.

Havant Arts Centre 023 9247 2700, www.havantartscentre.co.uk

St George’s Day Event

Watercress Line As Saturday 25th listing above.

Follow the adventures of Scatty Cat, a sleepy fireside cat who goes on a big adventure.

MONDAY 27th High School Musical

SUNDAY 19th Fort Cumberland Guard

Some toe-tapping musical numbers to keep your daughters happy!

Royal Marines Museum, Southsea, 1:30-4:30pm 023 9281 9385, www.royalmarinesmuseum.co.uk

Mayﬂower Theatre, Southampton 023 8071 1811, www.mayﬂower.org.uk

TUESDAY 28th Annie

Kings Theatre, Southsea 023 9282 8282, www.kings-southsea.com

With period Victorian outfits, musketry and cannon firing, drill routines and more, the Fort Cumberland Guard will bring the history of the Royal Marines vividly to life.

South Downe Musical Society brings this popular family show to Southsea.

Dawn Chorus and Breakfast Ages 7+

Mayﬂower Theatre, Southampton As Monday 27th listing above.

Manor Farm Country Park, nr Bursledon, £5 01489 787 055

Experience the wonders of the dawn chorus in the park, followed by an egg and bacon bop breakfast in the farm’s Victorian farmhouse (vegetarian option available – please request when booking).

Hampshire Farmer’s Market

Palmerston Road, Southsea, 10am-2pm

SATURDAY 25th The Railway Children Ages 5+

Nuﬃeld Theatre, Southampton, 11am and 2pm 023 8067 1771, www.nuﬃeldtheatre.co.uk

A much loved story with audience participation! Some children are chosen and rehearsed into their parts while the audience is taught the choruses of four songs.

High School Musical

WEDNESDAY 29th Annie

Kings Theatre, Southsea As Tuesday 28th listing above.

High School Musical

Mayﬂower Theatre, Southampton As Monday 27th listing above.

THURSDAY 30th Annie

Kings Theatre, Southsea As Tuesday 28th listing above.

High School Musical

Mayﬂower Theatre, Southampton As Monday 27th listing above.

St George’s Day Event

Watercress Line 01962 733 810 to book, www.watercressline.co.uk

Celebrate St George’s Day with Morris men, real ale, classic vehicles and more.

Eastney Beam Engine House Southsea, 1-5pm

Free admission to see the powerful and majestic James Watt beam engines in their original Victorian engine house.

Petworth Farmer’s Market

Golden Square and The High Street, 8:30am-1:30pm

SUNDAY 26th The Railway Children Ages 5+

New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth, 2pm, £5 023 9264 9000, www.newtheatreroyal.com

When father is taken away, the children and their mother are forced to leave their London home and move to a small house in the North Country.

www.familiessolenteast.co.uk

Nursery news Nursery & Pre-school Sessions 8am to 1pm 1pm to 6pm or All day: 8am to 6pm

Good Manors opened its ﬁrst nursery, Manor Lodge

in 1998 and quickly built up a good reputation within the Fareham area. Due to vastly increasing numbers its second nursery, Miller Drive, opened in 2004 and has continued to build upon their reputation. Both nurseries have established strong links in each locality and are renowned for providing the utmost care and education. Children are valued for their individuality and the curriculum reﬂects children’s interests in line with the new Early Years Foundation Stage. Good Manors prides itself on employing highly trained and qualiﬁed staff to ensure the children access a high quality learning environment. Staff have high expectations of the children which enhances their learning potential. ‘The outcomes for children are good’ (Ofsted 2008). Good Manors strives to actively build strong relationships with their parents and encourage their input into the nursery planning – ‘Parents are involved with their children’s learning’ and ‘the nursery places emphasis on inclusive practice for every child and works with Parents to meet the needs of each child’ (Ofsted 2008). Good Manors Nurseries Ltd welcomes visits by potential parents and these can be arranged by telephoning the nurseries.

New Parent and Toddler Group to open at Portsmouth High School We have an excellent pre-school within our nursery providing children with a good understanding of the Early Years foundation stage before they go to school.

Manor lodge Fareham PO16 7DT

01329 230123 118 Miller Drive, Fareham P016 7LN

01329 823222

Outstanding!

The Portsmouth High School Nursery and Reception Class were recently judged by Ofsted as outstanding in every category.

Following the success of an ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted report last summer, the Portsmouth High School Nursery is starting its own free Parent and Toddler group on Monday 2nd March. The nursery and reception classes at the Southsea independent school was awarded an ‘Outstanding’ in every category during its recent inspection with inspectors stating that ‘…children attending the provision are offered an exceptional quality of education’. The Parent and Toddler group is a new initiative for the Nursery, and an excellent way for parents and their children to ﬁnd out more about the Nursery provision and to see the Early Years Building. Clare Mills, Nursery Leader at the Nursery said, ‘We are really looking forward to running the Parent and Toddler group. There will be lots of fun activities and play for the children, art and music, opportunities to explore our garden and our secure outdoor play area as well as storytime. Refreshments and an opportunity for chat will be available for the adults too!’ The Parent and Toddler Group will start on Monday, 2nd March and will run every Monday thereafter from 1:45pm-2:45pm. Please contact the school for more information on 023 9282 4916 or email junior.head@por.gdst.net.

Little Learners nursery currently has vacancies for under 2s. If you are looking for high quality care for your baby or toddler, get in touch using the numbers in the ad below…

Come and visit us to find out why Please contact us for more information about free nursery taster sessions and our Parent and Toddler Group. www.gdst.net/portsmouthhigh Part of the Girls’ Day School Trust, a family of 29 schools

Telephone 023 9278 2726

023 9282 6714

Little Learners Day Care • Age from 3 months to 8 years

• OFSTED registered with good outcome

• Discounts • Preschool funding • Qualified caring staff • Ample car parking • Holiday leave

Hilsea 023 9269 6402

Fratton 023 9275 6104

• Learning through play the Highscope way!

Little Learners Day Care Ltd, Nuffield Health, Alexandra Park, Northern Parade, Hilsea PO2 9PB

Park Lodge, 28 Clarkes Road, Fratton Both branches are open: 7:30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday

March/April 2009 Families Solent East 17

Children’s Centre news Brambles Nursery School and Children’s Centre, Southsea This popular Children’s Centre in Brambles Road has started a Dad’s Drop-in, Fridays from 1-3pm. This is an opportunity for dads to meet other dads and to enjoy activities with their children. For more information, call Mark on 023 9298 7977 ext. 107.

Crookhorn Lane Children’s Centre This centre is currently running: FREE Stop Smoking Clinic on Wednesdays, 10-11am; Fitbugs walking with your buggy class, Mondays, 9:30-11am; YPG, a fun and informal weekly group for young parents and parents-to-be, Fridays, 12noon-1:30pm.

Havant and Waterlooville Football Club Family Event, 4th April For just £5 per family you can have one hour of football coaching at Staunton Country Park, followed by lunch at the football club. Finish off by watching the game between Havant and Waterlooville fc and Maidenhead United. There are limited spaces so book early to secure your place by calling or dropping in at the reception. Crookhorn Lane Children’s Centre, Crookhorn Lane, 023 9226 4701.

Hayling Island Children’s Centre

Portsdown Area Children’s Centre There are two groups running from Portsdown as well as Highbury Primary School, Highbury Community Centre, and Medina Primary School, which are satellite centres for the area. This allows parents to have access to children’s centre services no matter where they are in the Portsdown area. They currently offer a wide range of services which include: Childcare, early educational and sessional care, holiday play clubs with free activities over the school holidays, individual family support, play groups, support groups, Family Learning courses and nvq courses. The current timetable is as follows:

Portsdown Monday: Baby Lunch Cafe (pre-booked) @ 10-11:30am // Bumps & Babies, 12:30-2:30pm Tuesday: Family Learning Maths Course (pre-booked), 9am-12pm // Breast Feeding Support Group, 1-2:30pm Wednesday: Breastfeeding Support Group, 10am-12pm // Family Learning Music Workshop, 1-3pm Thursday: Cooking on a Budget (pre-booked 5 week course), 9:30-11:30am // Little Nippers Play Group, 12-3pm // Connors Toy Library (every fortnight), 1-2:30pm Friday: Coffee Morning, 9-10:30am // Messy Play, 1-3pm Saturday: NCMA Childminding training (pre-booked), 9am-3pm

Medina Primary School

There are many groups on offer at the Hayling Island Children’s Centre in Palmerston Road, and they are hoping to start more. On the cards is a ‘Messy Play’ session, Baby Signing and Baby Massage.

Monday: Parent Play Group, 9-11:30am // Family Maths Course, 9:15-11:30am

Already confirmed are the following:

Wednesday: Come and Sing, 1-2:30pm (term time only)

Cheeky Monkeys: 5th March (held fortnightly): A play session for the parents and carers of children with additional needs. Story Sacks: 6th March 10am-12pm: Family Learning. Enjoy stories with your children. Healthy Eating: 13th March 10am-12noon: A Family Learning event. Treasure Baskets: 16th March, 1pm: Does you child enjoy playing with items in your house that are not their toys? They may enjoy a home made basket. Find out more at the session. Parents Forum: next meeting 25th March, 10am-12 noon: An opportunity to get your voice heard and to express your interest. Light refreshments provided. Stay and Play: Wednesdays, 9am-12noon: The opportunity for parents to bring their children to stay and play. The Toy Library will be visiting the centre offering a toy borrowing service. First Aid Course: First Aid training for parents of children aged 0-5. Places must be booked in advance by contacting reception. £3 deposit payable on booking. Hayling Island Children’s Centre, Palmerston Road, 023 9246 3633.

18 Families Solent East March/April 2009

Tuesday: Come and Play, 9-11:30am

Highbury Primary School Friday: School Coffee Morning, 9-10am

Highbury Community Centre Tuesday: Discovery Play Session, 9.30am-12pm Wednesday: Boogie mites, 11am-12pm (6 weeks) Thursday: Come and Sing, 9:45-11:15am (from 12 March) Friday: Connors Toy Library, 9:15am-12pm They are looking into running an nvq 2 Childcare course in the near future and are currently taking details of any parents in the area who may be interested. They are also taking details of any parents who would be interested in doing a free literacy course with crèche facilities.

Sandown Children’s Centre (correction) In our last issue we printed incorrect contact details. The correct contact details for Sandown Children’s Centre are 07847 403246 and sandownchildrenscentre@hotmail.co.uk.

www.familiessolenteast.co.uk

h! c n u ial la c â&#x2C6;&#x17E; ro u o ting a r b Cele Portsmouth

FREE

y a d s Thur April 2nd 9 200 10am m p to 2

Portsdown Primary School, Sundridge Close, Cosham PO6 3JL

Education School governors needed

Are you interested in raising standards in schools? Have you got some spare time to help your community? Would you like to improve your own skills and work as part of a team to improve the outcomes for local children?

f you answer yes to the above questions you could well make a governor and I just really enjoy the role, the people and the challenge to valuable contribution by becoming a school governor. keep improving every aspect of school life.’ When asked what advice There are currently vacancies for governors across Hampshire, she would give to new governors or people considering taking on the and Hampshire County Council are seeking community minded, role, Wendy says, ‘Go for it. Take time to find out about the curriculum. enthusiastic individuals to take on this valuable role. No formal Don’t think it’s the same as when you went to school!’ qualifications are required, as full training is provided by Hampshire Governors will need to give approximately 20 hours per term of their County Council’s Governor Services department. Common sense, an time to the role, however there are often opportunities for governors to enquiring mind, and the ability to think strategically are all important become more involved. Many work more closely on an area of particular to the role, as is a keen interest in improving education. interest such as literacy or special educational needs, or bring their skills Governors are volunteers who are attached to a particular school to in areas such as finance or personnel to the committees they sit on. help it to shape its future vision, and achieve its long term goals. They Parents are always represented on governing bodies, as they have a represent different sections of the community, and come from a variety valuable working knowledge of the school, and can play a key role in of backgrounds, bringing different skills and experiences to the role. helping to identify its aims. According to Wendy, governors need to be They work with the headteacher on a strategic level to help the school to ‘good time managers, be prepared to work as part of a team, and have the identify it’s priorities and plan for improvement. They get involved with ability to understand where support, praise and challenge are relevant.’ diverse tasks ranging from overseeing the school budget, to monitoring There is currently a particular need for governors in Havant, Gosport standards achieved by pupils and reviewing the impact of policies. and Fareham. Parents interested in becoming a governor at their child’s Wendy Steward has been a school governor for over ten years. She is school should contact the school directly. Anyone interested in becoming currently a parent governor and the vice chair at a Fareham primary a governor who is not already involved with a particular school should school. She says of her experience, ‘When I first became a governor I contact Mandy Lewis at Havant Governor Services on 023 9244 1511, or wanted to help a particular community, whose young people struggled via email at havant.governor.services@hants.gov.uk Those with web access against poverty and a lack of prospects. I’m now in my third school as a can visit www.hants.gov.uk/education/governors for more information.

A vote of confidence by both Ofsted and the pupils

Chiltern Tutorial School, specialising in specific learning difficulties and located in Otterbourne Village Halls, has received a good Ofsted report following its inspection last month.

he independent school provides a happy, supportive and Being so small, the school has a family atmosphere and the parents are caring environment for children, aged 7 to 11, with specific made to feel very much part of their children’s progress. The inspection learning difficulties (dyslexia) and related problems such as revealed that the school ‘provides a good quality of education for its dyspraxia and attention deficit disorder. pupils’. This is reflected in both the parents’ and pupils’ opinions which In the wake of Labour backbench mp, Graham Stringer’s showed that they were ‘overwhelmingly supportive and full of praise’. damning comments claiming that dyslexia is a myth invented by ‘My son’s life has been turned around by the school’, says one parent, education chiefs to cover up poor teaching, it has become increasingly ‘and our home life is so much more relaxed. Knowing that he has all the important to draw attention to the fact that dyslexia is a very real difficulty support he needs is very reassuring. He is such a bright child that it was and not related to low intelligence or laziness. The 23 children at Chiltern heartbreaking seeing him fail in his old school.’ Tutorial School are certainly testament to this. One of the children at the school announced recently that it is ‘the When children first start at the school they often have extremely low most brilliant school ever!’ self-esteem, having been made to struggle in mainstream school for Chiltern Tutorial School has produced a leaflet about parents’ and some time. However, as the Ofsted report states, due to the support that children’s experiences with dyslexia, Please Mind the Gap, which can be the children get, their self-esteem is increased, and ‘pupils’ confidence downloaded from their web site at www.chilterntutorial.co.uk. and their belief in their own potential, is significant’. If you are concerned about your Jane Gaudie, head teacher at the school, says, ‘School can be a very child’s progress at school painful experience for many children. Continually being asked to perform and think that he or she tasks that are likely to end in failure is extremely demoralising and upmay be dyslexic, call setting. In many cases children sometimes arrive at Chiltern physically the school on 01962 and emotionally deflated. Within weeks of them being in an environment 717 696. that understands their differences, they appear more confident, they are happy to have a try, and realise that making mistakes is part of the learning experience.’ The children are placed in groups according to ability rather than age. Here they can learn at their own level and pace using structured and multi-sensory methods. The Ofsted inspectors noted, ‘As a result of the good quality work to support the pupils’ prime difficulty of dyslexia, the vast majority of pupils make better progress in their literacy skills than might have been thought possible by parents.’

20 Families Solent East March/April 2009

Clubs & classes Professional tuition now more affordable at Kip McGrath As a parent you care about your child’s future. You know their experience at school can make all the difference to their happiness and success. This is why more and more parents are paying for after school tuition, particularly in Maths and English.

Ofsted registered If you have wanted your child tutored privately but have been put off by the cost, then think again. The Kip McGrath Education Centre in Portsmouth has recently become Ofsted registered. This means that families receiving tuition at Kip McGrath may qualify for a number of government initiatives to help with the cost of their tuition. Basic and higher rate tax payers can reduce their tax and National Insurance by paying through the Childcare Voucher Scheme. Families eligible for the childcare element of Working Tax Credit may be able to claim up to 80% of the cost of tuition at Kip McGrath. Linda Jones, Centre Director , says; ‘We are delighted to be Ofsted registered. The extra fi nancial help will mean tuition is now available to many more children who need it. In these difficult times this is just the sort of good news that we need.’

How Kip McGrath can help Linda says, ‘All our programs are designed to give children the motivation to succeed. Progress is at the child’s own pace so they are never overwhelmed. We emphasise the positive aspects of every child and target the work at a level appropriate for each child’s needs. Children really try when they attend because achievement is not only rewarding, it is fun!’

Free assessment Before children begin tuition they are given an assessment of the area they wish to be tutored in. This takes place at the Centre in Southsea. For details of the government initiatives and to book an assessment please call Howard or Linda on 023 9275 5923.

Professional tuition in

Maths & English Reading Writing Spelling Maths

Designed to meet the unique needs of your child

Registered with OFSTED

ing 6-16 nefit ye Be ar ll of a ds ol

abilities

For a FREE assessment 023 92 755 923 today www.kipmcgrath.co.uk ww .kipmcgrath.co.uk

Clive’s Easylearn Rock Roadshows Popular rock lessons can now be enjoyed in schools with a new initiative organised by Clive’s Easylearn Rock School and the Extended Services teams, whose remit it is to liaise with schools, local businesses, clubs and organisations to inform and enhance the various activities available to children, their families and the wider community. The Clive’s Easylearn Rock Roadshows are completely free of charge to the schools and are an extension of the rock lessons that are held in the nine centres in the region. ‘The Petersﬁeld and Chichester roadshows have been great fun and the response from pupils, teachers and parents has been brilliant’, says Mark Thompson-Smith, who runs the Easylearn Pop Music Schools in Portsmouth. ‘We’re just showing them that there is a diﬀerent way of teaching children how to play drums, guitar, bass and vocals and that it can be great fun’ For more information call 023 9243 6122 or visit www.clivesmusic.com.

Blissful Babes baby massage Research suggests that the first year of a baby’s life should be adequately stimulated by touch, use of voice and facial expression. The use of massage can be introduced to a baby at just a few weeks old and continued to any age, though usually there is a brief time when babies may become disinterested. This usually coincides with the developmental stage of crawling and many babies would much rather be exploring their surroundings than lying still to be massaged. A parent may find the ‘actual’ massaging of their child to be quite strange at first, as they need to learn the technique and strokes from the instructor. Evidence suggests that baby massage may contribute to stronger bonding and attachment between baby and parent. The recommended oils to use include sunflower (known for its hypoallergenic properties), grapeseed, olive and sweet almond. It is advisable, however, for babies who are already using an emollient cream for dry skin or eczema, to use the same cream for massage. Ideally, baby massage should be done at least three times a week in order to gain the maximum benefits. Such benefits include strengthening the body and the immune system, improved sleep, relief for constipation and colic, and help with special educational needs (SEN). Blissful Babes will be launching baby massage and other infant and toddler classes in the Petersfield area. The company was created by Michelle Francois, a former Community Nursery Nurse working within a Health Visiting Team. Michelle has worked with babies, children and their parents for over fifteen years. Michelle has a competent background in baby massage and has been running successful baby massage classes for over six years. She completed her instructor training at the Active Birth Centre, in London in 2001 under the expert guidance of Peter Walker, an internationally recognised physical therapist. For more information on Blissful Babes baby massage classes see the advertisement on page 3. March/April 2009 Families Solent East 21

In season: Leeks, parsnips, sprouting broccoli, beetroot, radishes Supermarkets show on their packaging where fruit and vegetables come from and it is always a shock to see that the organic lettuce in your basket has come all the way from Tanzania. Fruit and vegetables are easy to grow at home, even in the smallest area. And you can measure the food miles in terms of food paces! 2 1 8

Guilt free, healthy chocolate from CHOC Chicks Did you know chocolate in its raw form is actually good for you? Now you can make your very own delicious and healthy chocolate with the new CHOC Chick Kits. CHOC Chick Kits contain all the ingredients you need to make handmade raw chocolates including unprocessed raw cacao powder. There are no refined sugars or dairy products so your chocolates can be dairy free, gluten free and even sugar free. Unprocessed raw cacao is one of the richest sources of antioxidants of any food on the planet! Scientist have discovered that it’s richer in antioxidant flavanols than green tea, red wine or blueberries! The CHOC Chick Kits include a recipe booklet with easy to make recipes as well as gift bags and stickers so you can share the chocolates with your friends and family. South American born, Brighton Mum and founder of Choc Chick kits, Galia Orme says, ‘I love chocolate! Chocolate has always been a big part of my life and some of my earliest childhood memories are of making and eating chocolate as a child in South America. I resolved to set up CHOC Chick to promote the pure goodness of chocolate in its raw state and bring the delights and benefits of raw chocolate to everyone’. To get your very own CHOC chick kit and find out about Choc Chick parties visit www. chocchick.com. Enter the code CHOC fse for a fantastic 10% discount.

22 Families Solent East March/April 2009

Strawberries are delicious, full of vitamin C and especially popular with children. They are different from most fruits in that their seeds are produced on the outside of the fruit – this combined with their bright red colour has the unfortunate side-effect of making them very attractive to birds (and children!). A recent trip to the supermarket revealed that the strawberries on sale there had come all the way from Egypt, but strawberries do not travel well. No doubt, there is nothing quite like the taste of home-grown fruit. In season, it is possible of course to visit your local ‘Pick Your Own’ farm – although admittedly, not much fruit will make it all the way home! But if you sow some seeds now, you could be enjoying your own home-grown strawberries direct from your own garden or windowsill by summer. How to grow strawberries: You can grow strawberries in containers, window boxes and baskets as well as in your garden beds. 1 Sow the seeds in egg boxes filled with compost. Sprinkle the seeds on the surface of the compost. Do not cover with compost. 2 Place the egg box inside a clear plastic bag. 3 Keep the compost moist. 4 The seeds will germinate in about14 to 21 days. It may seem slow – be patient! 5 Once the seedlings are big enough to handle, transplant them into pots.

6 After about 15 days in pots, plant them direct into their permanent position, such as in a container. 7 The plants should ﬂower and fruit from around midsummer to late autumn. 8 Eat strawberries. Yum!

Strawberry facts: l Strawberries are ‘false fruit’ because it’s the seeds on the outside that are actually the fruit. l The average strawberry has 200 seeds. l The Romans believed strawberries alleviated symptoms of all inﬂammations, fevers, throat infections, bad breath, melancholy, fainting, kidney stones, attacks of gout, and diseases of the blood, liver and spleen. l Medieval stone masons carved strawberry designs in churches to symbolize perfection and righteousness. l In parts of Bavaria, it’s believed elves are partial to strawberries and so will aid the production of healthy calves and ensure plenty of milk if baskets of strawberries are tied to cattle’s horns. l There is a museum in Belgium just for strawberries. l Strawberries are a member of the rose family. l Split a double strawberry in half and share it with the opposite sex, and you’ll soon fall in love. l Strawberries contain more vitamin C than oranges, are high in ﬁbre, low in calories and a good source of folic acid. l

www.familiessolenteast.co.uk

y r o t c e r di Business opportunities

Photographers

Forever Living, 01329 232 084. Call

Rare Moments Photography, 07891 434 318, raremomentsphotography.co.uk. Pregnancy and baby portraits.

Hesione Waugh for details of how to build a successful business around family life.

Usborne Books, 01329 662 998,

Shopping

www.usborneonline.org/lizacheshire. Build an exciting and proﬁtable business selling Usborne Books.

Holidays Appuldurcombe Holiday Cottages,

29 Years Experience

mmer Tuition 01983 in Your Home 840Own 188, www.appuldurcombe.co.uk. All Subjects, AllFamily Exams, All Levels friendly cottages around a 300 acre

mary, 4/7/8+ prep estate school entry, 11+, on the IsleSATS of Wight.

mmon Entrance, Scholarship, Dyslexia, Remedial

SE, AS & A-level, Univ., Adult & Languages

www.fleet-tutors.co.uk

amanda@westbanbury.co.uk, 784946. 10 holiday cottages in Devon 45 644 545201566 or 02380 445502 with indoor pool and other facilities.

FM_NYDA_AD2_HPV_300109

30/1/09

12:54

Page 1

NEW

Get rid of head lice with just one treatment

Hiscock Gallery, 023 9282 5330, 11 Stanley St, Southsea. Art and craft supplies; specialists in framing and ﬁne art printing. Jackabellas, 023 9235 000, 29 Years Experience www.jackabellas.co.uk. Designer clothes for children Tuition aged 0-12inyears. Private Your Own Home All Subjects, All Exams, All Levels � � �

Need a card or stationery Common Scholarship, Dyslexia, Remedial forEntrance, that special occasion? Primary, 4/7/8+ prep school entry, 11+, SATS

GCSE, AS & A-level, Univ., Adult & Languages Superb range of exclusive designs

www.fleet-tutors.co.uk

Delivery straight to your home or workplace

0845 644 5452 or 02380 445502 Up to 50% less than High Street prices

Parties

Helen Bolton (Independent Phoenix Trader 9639) 8 Allens Road, Southsea PO4 0QB 023 92733279 • helenbolton@btinternet.com

Tuition

Head lice – we only have to hear the words and our head begins to itch! Anyone can catch head lice and children are particularly at risk, especially during term time. ® But now there is a new solution for the problem – NYDA . ®

NYDA is effective, safe, easy to use and only needs one application to kill all head lice and nits. Only one application needed ®

NYDA kills lice within five minutes and eggs – nits – within eight hours. Applied as directed, a single application is enough to treat each infestation – there is no need for repeat treatment. Non toxic ®

First Class Learning, 01329 662 098,

www.firstclasslearning.co.uk. Maths and English tuition.

NYDA contains no toxic insecticides or pesticides. It contains 92% dimeticone, an ingredient also used in hair conditioners, and which is approved for use in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products for babies, ® children and adults. NYDA is easy to use, has a fresh fragrance and leaves even long or curly hair manageable and easy to comb. Because ® of its physical action, lice cannot develop resistance to NYDA . Unique formulation

Make your child’s party remember with mmer Tuition inone Your to Own Home

32 YearsExperience Experience 29 Years

29 Years Experience

Private Tuition in Your Own Home All Subjects, All Exams, All Levels

All Subjects, All Exams, All Levels

�

Primary, 4/7/8+ prep school entry, 11+, SATS

�

Common Entrance, Scholarship, Dyslexia, Remedial

�

GCSE, AS & A-level, Univ., Adult & Languages

mary, 4/7/8+ prep school entry, 11+, SATS

mmon Entrance, Scholarship, Dyslexia, Remedial

Comedy magic • Hysterical laughter • SE, AS & A-level, Univ., Adult & Languages Music, fun & games • FREE goodie bags www.fleet-tutors.co.uk • CRB (Police) checked • 023 9255 1018 www.professorpotty.co.uk

www.fleet-tutors.co.uk

0845 644 5452

The Squidgybug Shop, 023 9246 3792,

www.squidgybug.com, 5 Mengham Road, Hayling Island. Children’s themed party supplies, cards and gifts.

Kip McGrath Portsmouth, 023 9275

5923, www.kipmcgrath.co.uk. Professional tuition in Maths and English for children aged 6-16 years.

NYDA has a unique formulation, containing two-silicone based ingredients (dimeticone). It works in a completely different way to conventional insecticide-based or herbal head lice treatments. By penetrating deeply into the breathing system of head lice and larvae ® – the intermediate stage of development – and into nits, NYDA causes rapid and irreversible suffocation. And by killing lice at all three stages of development, their life cycle is interrupted and eradication is complete in one easy step. Clinically proven ®

NYDA eradicates head lice at all 3 stages of development – lice, larvae and eggs. Scientific studies have proved that it is effective, safe and well tolerated.

Suitable for children from 2 years.

Advertise in our di as little as £4.50 rectory from A range of options per month.

Only one application needed

av Minimum booking ailable to suit all budgets. of Call 023 9278 2726 one year, paid in advance. or solenteast.co.uk for email editor@families more information. 29 Years Experience

Issue 20 competition winners

ummer Tuition in Your Own Home

29 Years Experience

Private Tuition in Your Own Home

Available at Boots and Alliance Pharmacies and NOW at Lloydspharmacy

All Subjects, All Exams, All Levels

All Subjects, All Exams, All Levels Manor Farm: Mrs Linda Head, East Wittering. rimary, 4/7/8+ prep school entry, 11+, SATS Primary, 4/7/8+ prep school entry, 11+, SATS Destination: Mrs Lisa Elliott, Midhurst; Mrs S Machen, Portsmouth; Mrs J Brambley, Emsworth; ommon Entrance, Scholarship, Dyslexia, Remedial Common Entrance, Scholarship, Dyslexia, Remedial Lorna Coward, Portchester; Mrs Jennifer Simm, Gurnard; Courtney Wetherick, Ryde; Jo South, Gosport; CSE, AS & A-level, Univ., Adult & Languages GCSE, AS & A-level, Univ., Adult & Languages Mrs Nikki Brown, Nutbourne; Mrs L Winchester, Lee-on-the-Solent; Vivienne Wallace, Bognor Regis. www.fleet-tutors.co.uk www.fleet-tutors.co.uk Hiscock Gallery Art Goodies: Solomon Upton-Jubber, Portsmouth. � � �

020 8580 3911

For further information visit the NYDA pages at www.pohl-boskamp.com

020 8580 3911

Pharmaceuticals since 1835

Telephone 023 9278 2726

March/April 2009 Families Solent East 23

1 of 3 family tickets to Paultons Park A family ticket admits 2 adults and 2 children.

Send your answer along with your name, address and contact number to: Families Solent East, PO Box 731, Southsea, PO1 9AR; or send an email with your answer and details to: competitions @familiessolenteast.co.uk, with ‘Paultons’ as your subject. One entry per household. All entries must be received by 30th April 2009.

Paultons Park is the theme park for families and has over fifty wonderful rides and attractions for all ages. In 2009 there’s even more fun to be had with two amazing new additions… EDGE is a fast and exhilarating ride where forty riders sit round the edge of a giant disc that spins along a ninety metre track at up to 43 mph, reaching a height of fifteen metres! For the little ones there’s WATER KINGDOM, a child’s paradise of water jets, sprays, fountains and super soakers featuring over twenty different ways to get wet! Old favourites also include the breathtaking COBRA roller coaster, the JUMPING BEAN and the RAGING RIVER RIDE log flume. There’s also an amazing collection of exotic birds and animals to see. Paultons really is way too much fun for one day! For a chance to win a family ticket, just answer the question below…

How man y rid ers sit aro und the ED GE ?